Container for 3D printed objects and method of cooling and unpacking a manufactured object from a 3D printer using that container

ABSTRACT

A container ( 140 ) for receiving a manufactured object ( 160 ) from a 3D printer is disclosed. A method for cooling and unpacking 3D printed objects using that container. ( 140 ) is also disclosed. The container has a wall forming the sides of the container, a top extending to the sides of the container, a connector ( 142 ) for connection to a vacuum source and a guillotine member ( 150 ). The lower portion of the container has support members to slidably receive the guillotine member ( 150 ) to form a base of the container. The guillotine member is selectively configurable between an apertured configuration having a plurality of through holes ( 152 ) to allow passage of air and/or build material, and a closed configuration in which the through holes are closed so as to prevent build material from falling out of the container.

There is disclosed containers for 3D printed objects. Once a 3D objectis printed, it is left to cool. The cooling process can take many hours,typically 30 to 35 hours. During this time, the printer may be occupiedby the 3D objects, causing inefficiency in the printing cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates an example of a three dimensional (3D)printing system;

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the material management station of theexample of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a working area of the materialmanagement station of the example of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2A schematically an internal circuit diagram of one example of amaterial management station;

FIG. 2B is a table schematically illustrating example valve settinginformation for the material management station internal circuit of FIG.2A;

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates an example build material trapgeometry used in tanks of the material management station internalcircuit of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows an example of the natural cooling process;

FIG. 4 shows an example of the fast cooling process;

FIG. 5 shows an example of the trolley and container;

FIG. 6 shows another example of the fast cooling process; and

FIG. 7 shows another example of the trolley and the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1A, the three dimensional (3D) printing system 100 (oradditive manufacturing system) according to one example comprises: atrolley 102, a 3D printer 104 and a material management station 106. Thematerial management station 106 manages build material.

The trolley 102 is arranged to slot into a docking position in theprinter 104 to allow the printer 104 to generate a 3D object within thetrolley. The trolley is also arranged to also slot (at a different time)into a docking position 107 in the material management station 106. Thetrolley 102 may be docked in the material management station 106 priorto a 3D printing process to load the trolley with build material inpreparation for a subsequent 3D printing process.

The build material loaded into the trolley may include recycled orrecovered build material from one or more previous printing processes,fresh build material or a portion of fresh and recycled build material.Some build materials may be non-recyclable and hence in this case norecovered build material will be used to load the trolley. The buildmaterial may be or include, for example, powdered metal materials,powdered composited materials, powder ceramic materials, powdered glassmaterials, powdered resin material, powdered polymer materials and thelike. In some examples where the build material is a powder-based buildmaterial, the term powder-based materials is intended to encompass bothdry and wet powder-based materials, particulate materials and granularmaterials. It should be understood that the examples described hereinare not limited to powder-based materials, and may be used, withsuitable modification if appropriate, with other suitable buildmaterials. In other examples, the build material may be in the form ofpellets, or any other suitable form of build material, for instance.

Returning to FIG. 1A, the trolley 102 may also be docked in the dockingposition 107 in the material management station 106 (shown without thetrolley 102 docked in FIG. 1A) to clean up at least some components ofthe trolley 102 after it has been used in a 3D printing productionprocess. The clean-up process may involve recovery and storage in thematerial management station 106 of unfused build material from theprevious print job for subsequent reuse. During a 3D printing process aportion of the supplied build material may be fused to form the 3Dobject, whilst a remaining portion of the supplied build material mayremain unfused and potentially recyclable, depending upon the type ofbuild material used. Some processing of the unfused build material maybe performed by the material management station 106 prior to storage forrecycling, to reduce any agglomeration for example.

It will be understood that the material management station 106 may alsoinclude an access panel (not shown) to cover the docking position 107when the trolley 102 is fully docked with the material managementstation 106 and when the trolley 102 is fully removed from the materialmanagement station 106.

One material management station 106 can be used to service one or moredifferent 3D printers. A given 3D printer may interchangeably use one ormore trolleys 102, for example, utilising different trolleys fordifferent build materials. The material management station 106 can purgea trolley 102 of a given build material after a 3D printing productionprocess, allowing it to be filled with a different build material for asubsequent 3D printing production run. Purging of the trolley 102 mayalso involve purging of the material management station 106 oralternatively, it may involve separation of different build materials inthe material management station 106 to prevent contamination of onebuild material type with another.

The trolley 102 in this example has a build platform 122 on which anobject being manufactured is constructed. The trolley 102 also comprisesa build material store 124 situated beneath a build platform 122 in thisexample. The build platform 122 may be arranged to have an actuationmechanism (not shown) allowing it, when it is docked in the printer 104and during a 3D printing production process, to gradually move down,such as in a step-wise manner, towards the base of the trolley 102 asthe printing of the 3D object progresses and as the build material store124 within the trolley 102 becomes depleted. This provides progressivelymore distance between the base level of the build platform 122 and theprint carriages (not shown) to accommodate the 3D object beingmanufactured. The size of an object being printed may increaseprogressively as it is built up layer-by-layer in the 3D printingprocess in this example.

The 3D printer 104 of this example can generate a 3D object by using abuild material depositor carriage (not shown) to form layers of buildmaterial onto the build platform 122. Certain regions of each depositedlayer are fused by the printer 104 to progressively form the objectaccording to object-specifying data. The object-specifying data arebased on a 3D shape of the object and may also provide object propertydata such as strength or roughness corresponding to the whole object orpart(s) of the 3D object. In examples, the desired 3D object propertiesmay also be supplied to the 3D printer 104 via a user interface, via asoftware driver or via predetermined object property data stored in amemory.

After a layer of the build material has been deposited on the buildplatform 122 by the printer 104, a page-wide array of thermal (or piezo)printheads on a carriage (not shown) of the 3D printer 104 can traversethe build platform 122 to selectively deposit a fusing agent in apattern based on where particles of the build material are to fusetogether. Once the fusing agent has been applied, the layer of buildmaterial may be exposed to fusing energy using one or more heatingelements (not shown) of the 3D printer 104. The build materialdeposition, fusing agent and fusing energy application process may berepeated in successive layers until a complete 3D object has beengenerated. The material management station 106 may be used with anyadditive manufacturing technique and is not limited to printers usingprintheads on a carriage to deposit a fusing agent as in the exampledescribed above. For example, the material management station 106 may beused with a selective laser sintering additive manufacturing technique.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the material management station 106 ofthe example of FIG. 1A, with the trolley 102 of FIG. 1A docked therein.

As shown in the example of FIG. 1B, the material management station 106has two interfaces for receiving two fresh build material supply tanks(or cartridges) 114 a, 114 b, which may be releasably insertable in thematerial management station 106. In this example, each fresh buildmaterial supply tank 114 a, 114 b has a capacity of between about thirtyand fifty litres. In one example, the build material may be a powderedsemi-crystalline thermoplastic material. The provision of two freshbuild material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b allows “hot swapping” to beperformed such that if a currently active container becomes empty orclose to empty of build material when the trolley 102 is being filledwith build material by the material management station 106 inpreparation for an additive manufacturing process, a fresh buildmaterial supply source can be dynamically changed to the other of thetwo tanks. The material management system 106 may have one or moreweight measurement device(s) to assess how much fresh build material ispresent at a given time in one or more of the fresh build materialsupply tanks 114 a, 114 b. The fresh build material from the tanks 114a, 114 b, may be consumed, for example, when loading the trolley 102with build material prior to the trolley 102 being installed in theprinter 104 for a 3D printing production run.

Build material is moved around within the material management station106 in this example using a vacuum system (described below withreference to FIG. 2A), which promotes cleanliness within the system andallows for recycling of at least a portion of build material betweensuccessive 3D printing jobs, where the type of build material selectedfor use is recyclable. References to a vacuum system in thisspecification include a vacuum that is partial vacuum or a pressure thatis reduced, for example, relative to atmospheric pressure. The vacuummay correspond to “negative pressure”, which can be used to denotepressures below atmospheric pressure in a circuit surrounded byatmospheric pressure.

A total trolley-use time for printing of a 3D object before trolley 102can be reused may depend upon both a printing time of the printer 104when the trolley 102 is in the printer 104 and a cooling time of thecontents of the build volume of the trolley 102. It will be understoodthat the trolley 102 can be removed from the printer 104 after theprinting operation, allowing the printer 104 to be re-used for a furtherprinting operation using build material within a different trolleybefore the total trolley-use time has elapsed. The trolley 102 can bemoved to the material management station 106 at the end of the printingtime. The vacuum system can be used, in some examples, to promote morerapid cooling of the contents of the build volume following a 3D printproduction process than would otherwise occur without the vacuum system.Alternative examples to the vacuum system such as a compressed airsystem can create excess dust, potentially making the clean-up processmore difficult.

The material management station 106 in this example has a recoveredbuild material tank 108 (see FIG. 1B), located internally, where buildmaterial recovered from the trolley 102 by the vacuum system is storedfor subsequent reuse, if appropriate. Some build materials may berecyclable whilst others may be non-recyclable. In an initial 3Dprinting production cycle, 100% fresh build material may be used.However, on second and subsequent printing cycles, depending upon buildmaterial characteristics and user choice, the build material used forthe print job may comprise a proportion of fresh build material (e.g.20%) and a portion of recycled build material (e.g. 80%). Some users mayelect to use mainly or exclusively fresh build material on second andsubsequent printing cycles, for example, considering safeguarding aquality of the printed object. The internal recovered build materialtank 108 may become full during a post-production clean-up process,although it may become full after two or more post-production clean upprocesses have been performed, but not before. Accordingly, an overflowtank in the form of an external overflow tank 110 can be provided aspart of the material management station 106 to provide additionalcapacity for recovered build material for use once the internalrecovered build material tank 108 is full or close to full capacity.Alternatively, the external overflow tank 110 can be a removable tank.In this example, one or more ports are provided as part of the materialmanagement station 106 to allow for output of or reception of buildmaterial to and/or from the external overflow tank 110. A sieve 116 oralternative build material refinement device may be provided for usetogether with the internal recovered build material tank 108 to makeunfused build material recovered from a 3D printing production processfor recycling more granular, that is, to reduce agglomeration(clumping).

The material management station 106 in this example has a mixing tank(or blending tank) 112 comprising a mixing blade (not shown) for mixingrecycled build material from the internal recovered build material tank108 with fresh build material from one of the fresh build materialsupply tanks 114 a, 114 b for supply to the trolley 102 when it isloaded prior to a printing production process. The mixing tank (orblending tank) 112, in this example, is provided on top of the materialmanagement station 106, above the location of the build platform 122when the trolley 102 is docked therein. The mixing tank 112 is connectedto a mixer build material trap 113 (described below with reference toFIG. 2A) for input of build material into the mixing tank 112.

The fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b, the externaloverflow tank 110 and the main body of the material management station106 may be constructed to fit together in a modular way, permitting anumber of alternative geometrical configurations for the fully assembledmaterial management station 106. In this way, the material managementstation 106 is adaptable to fit into different housing spaces in amanufacturing environment.

The fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b may be releasablyconnected to the main body of the material management station 106 viarespective supply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b. These supply tankconnectors 134 a, 134 b may incorporate a security system to reduce thelikelihood of unsuitable build material being used in the 3D printingsystem. In one example, suitable fresh build material supply tanks 114a, 114 b are provided with a secure memory chip, which can be read by achip reader (not shown) or other processing circuitry on the main bodyof the material management station 106 to verify the authenticity of anyreplacement supply tank (cartridge) 114 a, 114 b that has beeninstalled. In this example, the chip reader may be provided on thesupply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b and upon attachment of the freshbuild material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b to the respective connector 134a, 134 b, an electrical connection may be formed. The processingcircuitry in the material management station 106 may also be used towrite a measured weight of build material determined to be in therespective fresh build material supply tank(s) 114 a, 114 b onto thesecure memory chip of the tank to store and/or update that value. Thus,the amount of authorised build material remaining in the fresh buildmaterial supply tank(s) 114 a, 114 b at the end of a trolley loadingprocess can be recorded. This allows the withdrawal of particulate buildmaterial from the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b beyondthe quantity with which it was filled by the manufacturer to beprevented. For example, in the case of a fresh build material supplytank 114 a, 114 b from which the tank manufacturer's authorised freshbuild material has previously been completely withdrawn, this preventsthe withdrawal of further build material that may damage the printer orprint quality, if the fresh build material supply tank were re-filledwith alternative fresh build material.

The secure memory chip of the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a,114 b can store a material type of the build material contained withinthe fresh build material supply tanks. In one example, the material typeis the material (e.g. ceramic, glass, resin, etc.). In this way, thematerial management station 106 can determine the material type to beused by the material management station 106.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a working area of the materialmanagement station 106 of the example of FIG. 1B, showing the buildplatform 122 of the trolley 102 and a build material loading hose 142,which provides a path between the mixing tank 112 of FIG. 1B and thebuild material store 124 of the trolley 102. The loading hose 142 isused for loading the trolley 102 with build material prior to thetrolley 102 being used in the printer 104. FIG. 10 also shows arecycling hose 144 for unpacking manufactured 3D objects, cleaning thebuild platform 122 of the trolley 102 and a surrounding working areawithin the material management station 106. In one example, therecycling hose 144 operates by suction provided via a pump 204 (see FIG.2A) and provides an enclosed path to the recovered build material tank108 (see FIG. 1B) for receiving and holding build material for re-use ina subsequent 3D printing process. The recycling hose 144 may, in oneexample, be operated manually by a user to recover recyclable buildmaterial from and/or to clean up a working area of the materialmanagement station 106.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates an internal circuit diagram 200 of oneexample of a build material management system in the form of a materialmanagement station 106. The material management station 106 can be usedin conjunction with the trolley 102 of FIG. 1A.

As previously described, printed parts along with unfused build materialcan be transported from the 3D printer 104 to the material managementstation 106 via the trolley 102. The material management station 106 canthen be used to process build material and printed parts from thetrolley 102.

In another example, printed parts along with unfused build material canbe transported from the 3D printer 104 to the material managementstation 106 via another suitable container, e.g. a box or cartridge (notshown) instead of the trolley 102. The material management station 106may then be used to process the powder-based material and printed partsfrom the container.

The material management station circuit 200 includes a conduit (orguide-channel) network and a pump 204 to provide a pressure differentialacross the conduit network to transport unfused build material betweendifferent components, as described below with reference to FIG. 2A. Inthis example, the pump 204 is a suction pump which operates to create apressure differential across the suction pump to produce air flow froman air inlet at substantially atmospheric pressure through the conduitnetwork towards an upstream side of the suction pump (at a pressurebelow atmospheric pressure or at “negative pressure”). The pump 204 maybe provided as an integral part of the material management station 106in one example, but in another example, the material management station106 provides a negative/reduced pressure interface, via which a suctionpump may be detachably coupled or coupled in a fixed configuration.Although the description below refers to first conduit, second conduit,third conduit, etc. of the conduit network, there is no implied orderingin the number of the conduits other than to distinguish one conduit fromanother.

A collection hose 206 is connected to a recovered build material tank(RBMT) 208 via a working area port in a working area 203 in the form ofa working area inlet port 273 and a first conduit (hose-to-RBMT conduit)272 of the conduit network. The recovered build material tank 208includes a recovered build material tank (RBMT) inlet area comprising arecovered build material tank (RBMT) build material trap 218 b and arecovered build material tank (RBMT) material outlet. The RBMT inletarea is where a fluidised flow of build material is received for storagein the recovered build material tank 208. The first conduit 272 providesa path between the working area inlet port 273 and the RBMT inlet area.The working area inlet port 273 is to receive build material from thecollection hose 206 and is provided at an end of the first conduit 272connected to the collection hose 206. In other examples, the RBMT inletarea may communicate directly with the working area 203 or thecollection hose 206 without a first conduit 272 between.

The recovered build material tank 208 in this example is providedinternally to the material management station 106. A hose-to-RBMT valve242 is positioned along the first conduit 272 for opening and closingthe path through the first conduit 272. The collection hose 206 extendsfrom the working area inlet port 273 into the working area 203. Theworking area 203 includes at least a portion of the trolley 102 (orother container) and can be maintained at substantially atmosphericpressure. Build material from the trolley 102 can be collected by thecollection hose 206 and transported to the recovered build material tank208 through the first conduit 272. The recovered build material tank 208can be used for storing any unfused build material from the trolley 102that is suitable for being used again in a further 3D printing (additivemanufacturing) process. In this way, the recovered build material tank208 can be used as a buffer storage tank to temporarily store unfusedbuild material prior to supplying the unfused build material for use ina further 3D printing (additive manufacturing) process.

A second conduit 274 (hose-to-overflow conduit) of the conduit networkconnects the collection hose 206 to an overflow tank 210. The overflowtank 210 includes an overflow inlet area and the second conduit 274provides a path between the collection hose 206 and the overflow inletarea comprising, in this example, an overflow build material trap 218 a(a filter). An overflow tank port in the form of an overflow tank outletport 275 may also be provided at an end of the second conduit 274. Theoverflow tank 210 can be selectively sealed by an openable lid (notshown). In a sealed configuration, the overflow tank 210 is in fluidcommunication with one or more overflow inlet ports and overflow outletports of the conduit network. Furthermore, in the sealed configuration,the overflow tank 210 is not directly open to the atmosphere. Buildmaterial from the working area 203 can be transported through the secondconduit 274 and overflow tank outlet port 275 into the overflow tank210. A hose-to-overflow valve 244 is positioned along the second conduit274 for opening and closing a path through the second conduit 274.Unfused build material from the trolley 102 (or other container) can becollected by the collection hose 206 and transported to the overflowtank 210 through the first conduit 272.

The overflow tank 210 is an external tank that is removable and that canbe used for storing excess recoverable (recyclable) build material whenthe recovered build material tank 208 is full. Alternatively, theoverflow tank 210 can be used as a waste storage tank to store unfusedbuild material from the trolley 102 that is not suitable for recycling.In a further alternative, the overflow tank 210 can be used as a purgedbuild material storage tank to store unfused build material from thetrolley 102 and from elsewhere in the material management station 106when the material management station 106 is purged of unfused buildmaterial.

The pump 204 is connected via a third conduit (pump-to-RBMT conduit) 276of the conduit network to the recovered build material tank 208. Thethird conduit 276 provides a path between the pump 204 and the RBMTinlet area. A RBMT-to-pump valve 246 is positioned along the thirdconduit 276 for opening and closing the path through the third conduit276.

The pump 204 is also connected to the overflow tank 210 via a fourthconduit (pump-to-overflow conduit) 278 of the conduit network. Thefourth conduit 278 provides a path between the pump 204 and the overflowinlet area. An overflow tank port in the form of an overflow tank vacuumport 279 may also be provided at an end of the fourth conduit 278.Fluid, e.g. air, can transmit through the overflow tank vacuum port 279from the overflow inlet area towards the pump 204. An overflow-to-pumpvalve 248 is positioned along the fourth conduit 278 for opening andclosing a path through the fourth conduit 278.

Unfused build material in the trolley 102 can be collected using thecollection hose 206 and transported either to the recovered buildmaterial tank 208 or to the overflow tank 210, or both. The tank to beused at a given time can be selected by opening appropriate valves alongthe conduits of the circuit of FIG. 2A.

The valves described herein with reference to FIG. 2A may be controlledby a controller 295, which may be, for example a programmable logiccontroller forming a part of processing circuitry of the build materialmanagement station 106. The controller 295 may electronically open oneor more valves to open one or more paths in respective conduits based onthe material transport operation being performed. The controller 295 mayalso electronically close one or more valves to close one or more pathsin respective conduits. The valves may be, for example, butterfly valvesand may be actuated using compressed air. In another example, one ormore valves may be opened and closed manually by a user.

The controller controls the general operation of the material managementsystem 200. The controller may be a microprocessor-based controller thatis coupled to a memory (not shown), for example via a communications bus(not shown). The memory stores machine executable instructions. Thecontroller 295 may execute the instructions and hence control operationof the build material management system 200 in accordance with thoseinstructions.

FIG. 2B is a table schematically illustrating for each of a number ofdifferent build material source locations and build material destinationlocations, an appropriate valve configuration corresponding the valvesas labelled in FIG. 2A. A tick in an appropriate column of the tableindicates that the corresponding valve is controlled to be open by thecontroller 295 for the particular build material transport operation.For example, when transporting build material from the recovered buildmaterial tank 208 to the mixing tank 212, the valves 256, 258 and 254are set by the controller 295 to be open, whereas the valves 250, 244,276, 248, 242, 262, 260, 252 a and 252 b are set to be closed. Inalternative examples, some valves may be set to be open by simultaneity.

In an example, a recyclability indicator is determined by processingcircuitry of the build material management station 106. Therecyclability indicator can be indicative of whether the build materialin the trolley 102 (or container) includes recyclable or recoverablematerial. When it is determined that the unfused build material in thetrolley 102 is not recyclable or when the recovered build material tank208 is full, the unfused build material can be transported to theoverflow tank 210.

To transport the unfused build material from the trolley 102 (orcontainer) to the overflow tank 210, the hose-to-overflow valve 244 inthe second conduit 274 between the collection hose 206 and the overflowtank 210 and the overflow-to-pump valve 248 in the fourth conduit 278between the pump 204 and the overflow tank 210 can be opened, e.g.electronically by the controller 295. When the pump is active, adifferential pressure is provided from the pump to the collection hose206. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at thecollection hose 206. The differential pressure enables build materialfrom the trolley 102 (or container) to be transported to the overflowtank 210. Build material (and air) in proximity with an end of thecollection hose 206 (at approximately atmospheric pressure) istransported from the collection hose 206, along the second conduit 274and through the hose-to-overflow valve 244 to overflow tank 210. Theoverflow tank 210 is provided in the sealed configuration. At theoverflow tank 210, build material separates from air flow and drops fromthe overflow inlet area into the overflow tank 210. Air (and anyresidual build material) continues along the fourth conduit 278 andthrough the overflow-to-pump valve 248 towards the pump 204, which is ata reduced pressure.

To help prevent unfused build material traveling through the overflowinlet area of the overflow tank 210 into the fourth conduit 278 towardsthe pump 204, the overflow inlet area can include an overflow buildmaterial trap 218 a (e.g. a powder trap). The overflow build materialtrap 218 a is arranged to collect build material from the second conduit274 and divert the build material (e.g. powder) into the overflow tank210. Thus, the overflow build material trap 218 a helps prevent buildmaterial conveying past the overflow inlet area of the overflow tank 210and entering the fourth conduit 278 via the overflow tank vacuum port279 to travel towards the pump 204.

The overflow build material trap 218 a may include a filter (e.g. amesh), which collects build material transported from the overflow tank210. Thus, the filter separates build material from air flow in theoverflow inlet area. Holes in the filter are small enough to prevent thepassage of at least 95% of build material but allow relatively free flowof air through the filter. Holes in the filter may be small enough toprevent the passage of at least 99% of build material, whilst stillallowing relatively free flow of air through the filter. Build materialcollected by the filter may drop from the overflow inlet area into theoverflow tank 210.

Recoverable unfused build material in the trolley 102 (or container) canbe transported to the recovered build material tank 208 in a similarway. To transport the unfused build material from the trolley 102 to therecovered build material tank 208, the hose-to-RBMT valve 242 in thefirst conduit 272 between the collection hose 206 and the recoveredbuild material tank 208 and the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 in the thirdconduit 276 between the pump 204 and the recovered build material tank208 can be opened electronically by the controller 295 as describedabove. When the pump is active, a differential pressure is provided fromthe pump to the collection hose 206. That is, a pressure at the pump 204is lower than a pressure at the collection hose 206. The differentialpressure enables build material from the trolley 102 (or container) tobe transported to the recovered build material tank 208. Build material(and air) in proximity with an end of the collection hose 206 (atapproximately atmospheric pressure) is transported from the collectionhose 206, along the first conduit 272 and through the hose-to-RBMT valve242 to the recovered build material tank 208. At the recovered buildmaterial tank 208, build material separates from air flow and drops fromthe RBMT inlet area into the recovered build material tank 208. Air (andany residual build material) continues along the third conduit 276 andthrough the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 towards the pump 204, which is atreduced pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

Each of the recovered build material tank 208, the overflow tank 210,and the mixing tank 212 has a build material trap 218 b, 218 a and 218 crespectively. These build material traps 218 a, 218 b, 218 c performcyclonic filtration of an incoming fluidised flow of build material andair as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2C. An inlet 296 of the buildmaterial trap 218 receives the fluidised flow of build material and thebuild material is pushed by a centrifugal force created by suction ofthe pump 204 to an outer wall 297 of the build material trap 218. In oneexample, the outer wall 297 of the build material trap 218 has acircular cross-section and the incoming build material migrates via acyclonic action to the outer wall 297 of the build material trap 218until the incoming air reaches an exit below, whereupon the buildmaterial particles drop down into a vacuum sealed recipient 299 in thebuild material trap 218. Thus the build material trap 218 separates afluidised flow of build material into a powder component, which isdeposited in the associated tank and an air component, which is suckedtowards the pump 204 via an air outlet 298 in the build material trap218 providing an interface to the pump 204. A filter (not shown) may beprovided in the air outlet 298 of the build material trap 218 to reducethe likelihood of any remaining build material reaching the pump 204 inthe separated air flow. The build material trap 218 provides efficientpowder separation via its geometry that promotes formation of a cyclonewithin the build material trap in use. It offers transportation of buildmaterial in an air flow and storage of the powder in a tank, whilstdiverting an air flow out of the tank towards the pump 204. The buildmaterial trap provides a filter to capture residual powder in an airflow emerging from the cyclone to prevent it from reaching the pump 204.The build material trap 218 is one example of a build material filterhaving a function of separating an air from a build material flow at acorresponding tank inlet area. In other examples, the air flow isseparated from the fluidised build material upon arrival at adestination tank using a filter other than a cyclonic filter. Forexample, a diffusion filter may be used.

Returning to FIG. 2A, the RBMT inlet area of the recovered buildmaterial tank 208 may also include the RBMT build material trap 218 b(e.g. a powder trap) or another type of RBMT build material filter toseparate build material and air from an incoming fluidised flow of buildmaterial. The RBMT build material trap 218 b operates in the same or asimilar way as the overflow build material trap 218 a in the overflowtank 210, to help collect and divert build material into the recoveredbuild material tank 208 to help prevent build material from travelingthrough the third conduit 276 towards the pump 204.

When collecting material from the trolley 102 via the collection hose206, as described above, a user can move the end of the collection hose206 around the working area 203 including the trolley 102 to collect asmuch build material from the trolley 102 as possible.

The recovered build material tank 208 is also connected via a fifthconduit (overflow-to-RBMT conduit) 280 of the conduit network. Anoverflow tank port in the form of an overflow tank inlet port 281 mayalso be provided at an end of the fifth conduit 280. Build material fromthe overflow tank 210 can be transported through the fifth conduit 280and overflow tank inlet port 281 into the recovered build material tank208.

The fifth conduit 280 between the recovered material tank 208 and theoverflow tank inlet port 281 includes an overflow-to-RBMT valve 250 inthe path leading to the RBMT build material trap. In the event that therecovered build material tank 208 needs to be refilled with recoveredbuild material, the overflow-to-RBMT valve 250 in the fifth conduit 280between the recovered build material tank 208 and the overflow tank 210can be opened, along with the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 in the thirdconduit 276 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the pump204. Each of the valves can be opened electronically by the controller295, as described above. When the pump is active, a differentialpressure is provided from the pump to the overflow tank 210. That is, apressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the overflow tank210. In this example, the overflow tank 210 is provided in an unsealedconfiguration and includes an air inlet (not shown) open to atmosphereto maintain approximately atmospheric pressure within the overflow tank210. The differential pressure enables build material from the overflowtank 210 to be transported to the recovered build material tank 208. Airflows into the overflow tank 210 through the air inlet. Build material(and air) in the overflow tank is transported from the overflow tank210, along the fifth conduit 280 and through the overflow-to-RBMT valve250 to the recovered build material tank 208. At the recovered buildmaterial tank 208, build material separates from air flow and drops fromthe RBMT inlet area into the recovered build material tank 208. Air (andany residual build material) continues along the third conduit 276 andthrough the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 towards the pump 204, which is at areduced pressure.

The material management station circuit 200 also includes a mixing tank212. The mixing tank 212 can be used to mix recovered build materialfrom the recovered build material tank 208 with fresh build materialfrom a fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b, ready to be usedin a 3D printing process.

Although two fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b are shown inthis example, in other examples, one or more fresh build material supplytanks 214 a, 214 b may be used. More fresh build material supply tanks214 a, 214 b may be used when appropriate.

Each fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 b is connected to themixing tank 212 via a sixth conduit (a fresh build material conduit) 282of the conduit network and a fresh build material supply tank port 283a, 283 b. The fresh build material supply tank port 283 a, 283 b is tooutput build material from the respective fresh build material supplytank 214 a, 214 b. Each fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 bhas an associated material supply tank cartridge-to-mixer valve 252 a,252 b in the sixth conduit 282 between the respective fresh buildmaterial supply tank 214 a, 214 b and the mixing tank 212. Each freshbuild material supply tank 214 a, 214 b also includes an air inlet valvewhereby to ensure air can enter the fresh build material supply tanks214 a, 214 b to maintain air pressure within the fresh build materialsupply tanks 214 a, 214 b at approximately atmospheric pressure.

The mixing tank 212 is connected via a seventh conduit (pump-to-mixerconduit) 284 of the conduit network to the pump 204. The seventh conduit284 between the mixing tank 212 and the pump 204 includes amixer-to-pump valve 254, which may be opened or closed to open and closethe passage through the seventh conduit 284.

To transport fresh build material from the fresh build material supplytank 214 a or 214 b to the mixing tank 212, the material supply tankcartridge-to-mixer valve 252 a or 252 b and the mixer-to-pump valve 254in the seventh conduit 284 between the mixing tank 212 and the pump 204are opened. Each of the valves can be opened electronically by thecontroller 295, as described above. When the pump 204 is active, adifferential pressure is provided from the pump 204 to the fresh buildmaterial supply tank 214 a or 214 b. That is, a pressure at the pump 204is lower than a pressure at the fresh build material supply tank 214 aor 214 b. The differential pressure enables build material from thefresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b to be transported to themixing tank 212. Build material (and air) in the fresh build materialsupply tank 214 a or 214 b is transported from the fresh build materialsupply tank 214 a or 214 b, along the sixth conduit 282 and through thecartridge-to-mixer valve 252 a or 252 b to the mixing tank 212. At themixing tank 212, build material separates from air flow and drops fromthe mixer inlet area into the mixing tank 212. Air (and any residualbuild material) continues along the seventh conduit 284 and through themixer-to-pump valve 254 towards the pump 204, which is at a reducedpressure.

The mixer inlet area of the mixing tank 212 can also include a mixerbuild material trap 218 c (e.g. a powder trap) or any type of mixerbuild material filter to separate an air flow from a build materialflow, which operates in the same or similar manner to as the overflowbuild material trap 218 a and the RBMT build material trap 218 b. Themixer build material trap 218 c helps to collect and divert buildmaterial into the mixing tank 212, and help prevent the build materialfrom travelling through the seventh conduit 284 towards the pump 204.

The mixing tank 212 is also connected to the recovered build materialtank 208 via an eighth conduit (RBMT-to-mixer conduit) 286 of theconduit network and a ninth conduit 288 of the conduit network extendingsequentially from the recovered build material tank 208 to the mixingtank 212. The ninth conduit 288 may be part of the RBMT-to-mixer conduit286.

A sieve 216 may, in some examples, be located in the RBMT to mixerconduit 286 or between the eighth and ninth conduits 286 and 288 betweenthe recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212. The sieve216 may be used to separate agglomerates and larger parts of materialfrom the recycled or recovered build material that is transported fromthe recovered build material tank 208. Often, agglomerates and largerparts of material are not suitable for recycling in a further 3Dprinting process, so the sieve may be used to remove these parts fromthe build material. The sieve 216 includes an air inlet (not shown) toensure air can enter the sieve 216 to maintain air pressure within thesieve 216 at approximately atmospheric pressure. In some examples, theRBMT-to-mixer conduit 286 may not be connected to a build materialoutlet of the recovered build material tank 208. In other examples aconduit connecting an outlet of the recovered build material tank 208 toa build material inlet in the mixer build material trap 218 c of themixing tank 212 may form a closed circuit.

A RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 is located in the eighth conduit 286 betweenthe recovered build material tank 208 and the sieve 216, and asieve-to-mixer valve 258 is located in the ninth conduit 288 between thesieve 216 and the mixing tank 212. The RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 andsieve-to-mixer valve 258 may be opened or closed to open and close thepassages through the eighth and ninth conduits 286, 288 between therecovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212. The valvesmay be opened or closed electronically by the controller 295.

To transport build material from the recovered build material tank 208to the mixing tank 212 both the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 and thesieve-to-mixer valve 258 in the eighth and ninth conduits 286, 288between the recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212can be opened as well as the mixer-to-pump valve 254 in the seventhconduit 284 that connects the mixing tank 212 to the pump 204. Buildmaterial in the recovered build material tank 208 may drop down into thesieve 216 through the eighth conduit 286 by gravity, for example. Whenthe pump 204 is active, a differential pressure is provided from thepump 204 to the sieve 216. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lowerthan a pressure at the sieve 216. The differential pressure enablesbuild material from the recovered build material tank 208 to betransported to the sieve 216 by gravity and to the mixing tank 212 bysuction. Build material in the recovered build material tank 208 istransported through the RBMT material outlet, along the eighth conduit286 and through the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 to the sieve 216. Buildmaterial (and air) in the sieve 216 is transported from the sieve 216,along the ninth conduit 288 and through the sieve-to-mixer valve 258 tothe mixing tank 212. At the mixing tank 212, build material separatesfrom air flow and drops from the mixer inlet area into the mixing tank212. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the seventhconduit 284 and through the mixer-to-pump valve 254 towards the pump204, which is at a reduced (negative) pressure.

A currently selected ratio of recycled build material from the recoveredbuild material tank 208 and fresh build material from the fresh buildmaterial supply tank 214 a or 214 b can be transported to the mixingtank 212 as described above. The ratio of fresh build material torecovered build material may be any selected ratio. The ratio may dependon the type of build material and/or the type of additive manufacturingprocess. In a selective laser sintering process the ratio could be, forexample 50% fresh to 50% recovered build material. In one example of aprinthead cartridge 3D printing process, the ratio may be 80% recoveredto 20% fresh build material. For some build materials 100% fresh buildmaterial may be used, but for other build materials up to 100% recoveredbuild material may be used. The fresh build material and the recoveredbuild material can be mixed together within the mixing tank 212 using,for example, a rotating mixing blade 213.

Once the fresh build material and the recovered build material aresufficiently mixed, the mixed build material can be transported from themixing tank 212 through a mixer-to-trolley valve 260, a tenth conduit(mixer-to-trolley conduit) 290 of the conduit network, a working areaport in the form of a working area outlet port 291, to the working area203 and into the trolley 102. Build material from the mixing tank 212can pass through the working area outlet port 291 into the working area203. The trolley 102 (or container) can be located substantially beneaththe mixing tank 212 so that gravity can aid the transport of mixed buildmaterial from the mixing tank 212, through the mixer-to-trolley valve260, the tenth conduit 290, the working area outlet port 291 and theworking area 203 to the trolley 102.

Once the trolley 102 is filled with enough build material for a given 3Dprint run, the trolley 102 can be returned to the 3D printer 104. Anappropriate quantity of build material to fill the trolley 102 for aprint job may be controlled by the controller 295 of the materialmanagement station 106 based on the material management station 106sensing how much build material is in the trolley when the trolley isdocked in the material management station 106 at the beginning of atrolley fill workflow. The controller may then fill the trolley with aparticular quantity (dose) of build material requested by a user for aparticular print job intended by the user. The dosing is achieved byusing a fill level sensor (not shown) such as a load cell in the mixingtank 212 to output a fill level value indicative of an amount ofnon-fused build material in the mixing tank. The fill level sensor canbe one or more load cells, or any other type of sensor such as alaser-based sensor, a microwave sensor, a radar, a sonar, a capacitivesensor, etc. When the fill level sensor is a load cell, the fill levelvalue can be an electrical signal indicative of a mass of the non-fusedbuild material in the storage container.

A number of different workflows may be implemented in the materialmanagement station 106. These workflows are managed by the user, butsome level of automation may be provided by a data processor on thematerial management station 106. For example, the user may select aworkflow from a digital display on the material management station 106.For users having one material management station 106 and one printer 104an example workflow cycle may be filling the trolley 102, followed byprinting a 3D object, followed by unpacking the object from a buildvolume in the material management station 106 followed by a subsequentprint operation and a corresponding unpacking of the build volume and soon. However, the material management station 106 may serve two or moreprinters so that successive unpacking and trolley filling operations maybe performed by the material management station 106. The user may alsochoose to perform the trolley filling, printing and unpacking functionsin a random order.

For each of the workflow operations, a user interface of the materialmanagement station 106 may guide the user to undertake particular manualoperations that may be performed as part of the workflow operation. Forexample, to perform an unpack operation, the user interface may instructthe user to move the collection hose 206 around the collection area 203as described previously. In addition, the material management station106 can automatically initiate other functions of the workflowoperation. For example, to perform the unpack operation, the materialmanagement station 106 can automatically operate the pump 204 whilst theuser moves the collection hose 206 around the collection area 203 torecover build material from the trolley 102. Any workflow operations thematerial management station 106 can perform fully automatically may besignalled to the user through the user interface without requiring userconfirmation to proceed. If the workflow operation could present apotential safety risk, the otherwise fully automatic workflow operationmay require user confirmation to proceed.

For example, to load the trolley 102 with build material, the user setsthis workflow operation then the material management station 106automatically launches the different operations required sequentially.The material management station 106 is controlled to send build materialfrom the recovered build material tank 208 to the mixing tank 212. Thematerial management station 106 is further controlled to send freshbuild material from at least one of the fresh build material supplytanks 214 a, 214 b to the mixing tank 212. The material managementstation 106 is subsequently controlled to blend the mixture in themixing tank 212. The mixed build material in the mixing tank 212 canthen be discharged to the trolley 102. In an example, this workflowoperation is completed as a batch process, and so the cycle may becontinuously repeated to completely fill the trolley 102.

In some processes, a small portion (e.g. 1%) of build material can passthrough the build material traps 218 a, 218 b, 218 c (e.g. the powdertraps) and can travel towards the pump 204.

An additional RBMT build material trap 220 (e.g. a powder trap) may, insome examples, be located in an eleventh conduit (pump feed conduit) 292of the conduit network that connects each of the third, fourth andseventh conduits 276, 278 and 284 to the pump 204. The additional RBMTbuild material trap 220 is connected to the RBMT inlet area. Theadditional RBMT build material trap 220 collects build material that mayhave passed through any of the overflow build material trap 218 a, RBMTbuild material trap 218 b or mixer build material trap 218 c to helpprevent it from reaching the pump 204. Build material collected in theadditional RBMT build material trap 220 can be transported into therecovered build material tank 208 by opening a trap-to-RBMT valve 262.The trap-to-RBMT valve 262 may be opened electronically by thecontroller 295. The RBMT build material trap 220 may operate in the sameor similar way to each of the overflow, RBMT, and mixer build materialtraps 218 a, 218 b and 218 c. Build material can be transported from theRBMT build material trap 220 to the recovered build material tank 208 bygravity.

A pump filter 222 may also be located in a twelfth conduit 294 of theconduit network adjacent the pump 204. This pump filter 222 helps tocollect any build material that may have passed through any of theoverflow build material trap 218 a, RBMT build material trap 218 b ormixer build material trap 218 c as well as the additional RBMT buildmaterial trap 220. This helps prevent the build material from reachingthe pump 204, thereby reducing the likelihood of the function of thepump 204 being impaired, which could happen if large quantities of buildmaterial were to reach it.

At any time, when the material management station 106 is to be used toprocess build material of a different material type, for example of adifferent material, the material management station circuit 200 can becontrolled to implement a purging process to purge substantially allbuild material of a current material type from the material managementstation circuit 200 to the overflow tank 210. The fresh build materialsupply tanks 214 a, 214 b can be disconnected from the build materialstation circuit 200 and stored to prevent wastage of fresh buildingmaterial of the current material type.

In one example, the purging process is carried out when unfused buildmaterial in the trolley 102 has already been collected using thecollection hose 206 and transported either to the recovered buildmaterial tank 208 or to the overflow tank 210, or both. Alternatively,the purge process can include using the collection hose 206 to transportany unfused build material in the trolley 102 to the overflow tank 210,as described previously.

The purge process includes transporting any unfused build material inthe recovered build material tank 208 to the overflow tank 210. Totransport unfused build material from the recovered build material tank208 to the overflow tank 210, the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 and thesieve-to-mixer valve 258 in the eighth and ninth conduits 286, 288between the recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212can be opened as well as the mixer-to-trolley valve 260 in the tenthconduit 290 and the hose-to-overflow valve 244 in the second conduit 274between the collection hose 206 and the overflow tank 210 and theoverflow-to-pump valve 248 in the fourth conduit 278 between the pump204 and the overflow tank 210. Any build material in the recovered buildmaterial tank 208 drops down into the sieve 216 through the eighthconduit 286 by gravity. The collection hose 206 can be connecteddirectly to the tenth conduit 290 before or after any cleaning of theunfused build material in the trolley 102 has been completed. When thepump 204 is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump204 to the sieve 216 via the overflow-to-pump valve 248, the overflowtank 210, the hose-to-overflow valve 244, the collection hose 206, themixer-to-trolley valve 260, the mixing tank 212 and the sieve-to-mixervalve 258. Build material in the recovered material tank 208 istransported to the sieve 216 by gravity via the eighth conduit 286 andthe RBMT-to-sieve valve 256. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 islower than a pressure at the sieve 216. The differential pressureenables build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to betransported to the sieve 216 and on to the overflow tank 210. At theoverflow tank, build material separates from air flow and drops from theoverflow inlet area into the overflow tank 210. Air (and any residualbuild material) continues along the fourth conduit 278 and through theoverflow-to-pump valve 248 towards the pump 204, which is at a reducedpressure. It can be seen that any unfused build material in the sieve216, the mixing tank 212 or in any of the eighth conduit 286, the ninthconduit 288, the tenth conduit 290 or the second conduit 274 may also betransported to the overflow tank 210. In this way, substantially allunfused build material in the material management station circuit 200can be transported to the overflow tank 210.

Alternatively, the unfused build material in the recovered buildmaterial tank 208 can be transported to the trolley 102 as describedpreviously. Subsequently, the unfused build material in the trolley 102can be transported to the overflow tank 210, also as describedpreviously. Thus, an alternative way to transport unfused build materialfrom the recovered build material tank 208 to the overflow tank 210 canbe provided without directly connecting the collection hose 206 to thetenth conduit 290.

The purge process can also include one or more further purging processelements where a sacrificial material is transported through any part ofthe conduit network of the material management station circuit 200 whichmay still contain at least an amount of unfused build material of acurrent material type. The sacrificial material can act to dislodge atleast some of the current build material remaining in the materialmanagement station circuit 200. The sacrificial material in one examplemay be the build material of the different build material type to besubsequently used in the material management station 106. Thesacrificial material may alternatively be an inert material (e.g.,silica) which is not a build material. In this way, any small amount ofsacrificial material remaining in the material management station 106 atthe end of the purging process is unlikely to interfere with the furtheroperation of the material management station 106.

After the purge process is completed, and substantially all the unfusedbuild material in the material management station circuit 200 is in theoverflow tank 210, the overflow tank 210 can then be removed from thematerial management station 106, for example for storage or disposal anda further overflow tank (not shown) can be connected to the materialmanagement station 106. The further overflow tank can be empty or thefurther overflow tank can contain build material previously purged fromthe (or another) material management station 106.

The purge process can be performed in response to a user input, orautomatically. Where purging is performed automatically, the materialmanagement station circuit 200 can be controlled to implement thepurging process when a trolley 102 containing a different material isslotted into the docking position 107 in the material management station106. In this example, a material type is electronically recorded on amemory chip of the trolley 102 (or other container). The memory chip isreadable by the processing circuitry of the material management station106 to determine the material type of the material in the trolley 102(or other container). Alternatively or additionally, the materialmanagement station circuit 200 can be controlled to implement thepurging process when one or more fresh build material supply tanks 214a, 214 b containing a different material type are connected to thematerial management station circuit 200. In this example, a materialtype is electronically recorded on a memory chip of the fresh buildmaterial supply tanks 214 a, 214 b. The memory chip is readable by theprocessing circuitry of the material management station 106 to determinethe material type of the material in the fresh build material supplytanks 214 a, 214 b. In other examples, the material management stationcircuit 200 can be controlled to implement the purging process when bothfresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b are removed from thematerial management station circuit 200. It will be appreciated that thematerial management station 106 may be controlled to provide anindication to a user that the purging process can be performed based onthe criteria discussed previously.

In order to improve efficiency of the overall 3D printing system, it isbeneficial to provide a container 140 for cooling and unpackingmanufactured objects 160 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The container 140 isseparate from the trolley 102 and use of the container 140 allows thetrolley 102 to be used for another print job to print subsequentmanufactured objects while the manufactured objects 160 contained in thecontainer 140 are cooled and unpacked in the container 160 independentlyfrom the trolley 102.

The container 140 is used alongside the 3D printing system 100. Thecontainer 140 is used with the trolley 102 to provide an improvedthroughput of manufactured objects 160 since the container 140 isdistinct from the trolley 102. A user may have a number of containers140 at his or her disposal because the container 140 is a less expensivedevice than the trolley 102. As such, manufactured objects 160 may becooled and unpacked from the container 140 while the trolley is re-usedto manufacture more objects 160.

FIG. 3 shows how the container 140 is used to facilitate low costnatural cooling while relieving trolley 102 of the print jobs. In someimplementations, low cost natural cooling can take approximately thirtyhours. In FIG. 3(a), the container 140 is positioned over themanufactured objects 160 on the printing platform of the trolley 102. Aguillotine member 150 is inserted into the container 140 to form a baseof the container 140 with the manufactured objects 160 located insidethe container 140.

In FIG. 3(b), a transporter 170 grabs the container 140 from the trolley102 and transports the container to a cooling table 180. The container140 can then be left on the cooling table 180 for the manufacturedobjects 160 to cool naturally. Multiple containers 140 may be placed onthe cooling table 180 for natural cooling.

Once the manufactured objects have cooled down, the transporter 170collects the container from the cooling table and takes it back to the3D printing system 100 as shown in FIGS. 3(d) and 3(e). At this stagethe container 140 is unpacked and any unused build material is collectedand recycled in the material management system 106. Unpacking isperformed by removing the guillotine member 150 from the container 140to release the manufactured objects and any unused build material.

FIG. 4 shows how the container 140 is used to cool and unpack themanufactured objects in the 3D printing system 100. In FIG. 4(a), thecontainer 140 is positioned over the manufactured objects 160. Theguillotine member 150 can be slid into or otherwise received by thecontainer 140 so as to provide a base for the container 140 and preventthe manufactured objects 160 from falling out of the container 140.

In FIG. 4(b), the container 140 is cooled using a vacuum source 144connected to the container via a connector 142. The vacuum source 144applies a variable vacuum in the container 140 to facilitate coolingwhile preventing damage to the manufactured objects 160. Unused buildmaterial may be suctioned from the container via the vacuum source andstored in the internal recovered build material tank 108 in the materialmanagement system 106.

In FIG. 4(c), the container 140 is vibrated to unpack the manufacturedobjects and remove unused build material. During the vibration stage,unused build material may be collected and stored in the internalrecovered build material tank 108.

In FIG. 4(d), the manufactured objects 160 may be bead blasted in thecontainer 140 to clean the manufactured objects 160.

FIG. 5 shows the container in more detail. The container 140 is providedfor receiving a manufactured object 160 from the 3D printer. Thecontainer 140 includes a wall forming the sides of the container 140, atop or cooling lid extending to the sides of the container and aconnector 142 for connection to a vacuum source (not shown). Thecontainer 140 may be any shape, and the wall of the container may beshaped to complement the other components in the 3D printing system. Inparticular, in one example the container is substantially cuboid shaped.The container 140 is positioned on the trolley 102 and therefore thebase of the container 140 is compatible with the build platform of thetrolley 102.

In one example, the connector 142 is located in the upper portion of thecontainer 140. In another example, the connector 142 is disposed on thewall of the container 140, or alternatively in the top of the container140. The connector 142 provides a means of connecting the container 140to a vacuum source such as a pneumatic pump or a vacuum pump, or asuction pump. The vacuum source can be controlled so as to provide idealconditions inside the container 140 for cooling manufactured objects 160located inside the container 140. The vacuum source may provide apartial vacuum.

The container 140 is provided with a guillotine member 150. The lowerportion of the container 140 is provided with support members (notshown) such as runners or channels to receive the guillotine member 150to form a base of the container 140. Other means for receiving theguillotine member 150 are also envisaged. A simple flange structure inthe lower portion of the container 140 may provide sufficient supportfor the guillotine member 150.

In FIG. 5(a), the container 140 is positioned on the trolley 102 so thatthe container contains the manufactured objects 160 and any unused buildmaterial 162. The guillotine member 150 is then moved so as to slidebetween the trolley 102 and the lower portion of the container 140 toprovide a base for the container 140. In this step, the manufacturedobjects 160 are transferred to the container 140.

The guillotine member 150 is selectively adjustable between an aperturedconfiguration and a closed configuration as shown in FIGS. 5(b) and5(c). In the closed configuration shown in FIGS. 5(b) and 5(e), theguillotine member 150 is provided with a closure by way of a pluralityof through holes 152 are closed so as to prevent build material 162and/or manufactured objects 160 from falling out of the container 140.In the apertured configuration shown in FIGS. 5(c) and 5(d), theguillotine member has a plurality of through holes to allow passage ofair and/or build material.

The guillotine member 150 may be partially opened in the aperturedconfiguration and the container 140 may be connected to the vacuumsource 144 via the connector 142.

A controlled vacuum may be applied to the container 140 to cool down themanufactured objects 160. Unused build material 162 may be recovered andcollected by the vacuum 144 and stored in the material management system106.

Once the manufactured objects 160 have been cooled, the container 140may be vibrated to unpack the manufactured parts 160.

The container 140 may be further provided with clamp points (not shown)such as hooks or loops. The clamp points are able to receive a clamp arm(not shown) from the 3D printer system 100 so that the container may bevibrated. Vibrating the manufactured objects 160 improves unpacking ofthe manufactured objects 160 and enables excess build material 162 to berecycled by collecting it from the container 140. A clamp arm in aprinter system 100 is provided with a vibration mechanism 148 forvibrating the container 140.

Alternatively, the container 140 may be provided with a vibrator forself-vibration of the manufactured objects 160 inside the container 140.

In one example, the guillotine member 150 is formed from at least twosheets of material. The materials may be mesh-like to provide aplurality of holes 152 over the entire surface of the guillotine member150. In another example, the material may be formed from a continuoussheet with a number of punched out holes 152. The location of the holes152 may be chosen so as to facilitate cooling of the manufacturedobjects 160.

In another example, air holes may be provided in the wall of thecontainer. Such air holes may be provided with doors, covers or filtersso as to only allow the passage of air when desired and to preventinadvertent build material spillage. Air holes in the wall of thecontainer may provide an alternative to the holes of the guillotine anda guillotine without any holes may be provided.

The guillotine member 150 may be arranged such that the plurality ofholes 152 may be partially opened. Controlling the hole size providesanother method for controlling the flow of air passing through thecontainer 140 while the vacuum source is connected to the connector 142and active.

In one example the guillotine member 150 is formed from a number ofapertured sheets. When the apertures are aligned, the guillotine member150 is in the apertured configuration and when the apertures are notaligned, the guillotine member 150 is in the closed configuration.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the fast cooling process carried out insidethe trolley 102. In FIG. 6(a), heaters 190 are provided to anneal themanufactured objects 160 in the container 140.

A heater 190 may be provided in the container so that annealing of themanufactured objects 160 may be carried out in the container 140.

A portion of the wall, the top or the base of the container 140 may beprovided with a heating element 190, heat transfer plate or thermalblankets to facilitate the annealing process.

In FIG. 6(b), the guillotine member 150 is at least partially openedinto the apertured configuration and the vacuum is connected to theconnector 142 to create an air flow through the container 140. Thevacuum sucks up unused build material and directs the unused buildmaterial to the recycle tank 108 in the material management system 106.Recycled build material may be used for subsequent print jobs. Thevacuum may initially be gentle in order to slowly reduce the temperaturewithout affecting the manufactured objects 160.

In FIG. 6(c), the container 140 is vibrated. This may be achieved byvibrating the container 140 externally or with an internal vibrator.Alternative, a pulsed vacuum may provide vibrations. Vibrations cancreate internal cracks in the unfused build material to enhance heat andunused build material extraction.

In FIG. 6(d), at a predetermined container temperature, or after acertain amount of cooling time, a strong vacuum is applied to thecontainer to enhance temperature reduction and build material unpacking.This can be combined with vibration and/or pulsed vacuum to increaseperformance.

FIG. 7(a) to (e) shows the fast cooling process within the trolley 102.Once the manufactured objects 160 have been printed, the trolley 102 istransferred to the material management system 106. The manufacturedobjects 160 are then transferred into the container 140 using the samemethod as previously described. The container 140 is coupled withheaters 190 and a connector 142 in the top or cooling lid 146 of thecontainer 140. The guillotine member 150 is partially opened so allowair and build material to pass through while retaining the manufacturedobjects 160 in the container 140 and a vacuum source is connected to theconnector 142. The vacuum collects unused build material for secondaryuse. Vibrators, increased suction and a combination of vibrations andincreased suction are used to cool and unpack the manufactured objects160.

The container 140 is used along-side the 3D printing system 100. Thecontainer 140 is used with the trolley 102 to provide an improvedthroughput of manufactured objects 160 since the container 140 isdistinct from the trolley 102. A user may have a number of containers140 are his or her disposal because the container 140 is a lessexpensive device compared to the trolley 102. As such, manufacturedobjects 160 may be cooled and unpacked from the container 140 while thetrolley 102 is re-used to manufacture more objects.

A benefit of the container 140 is that use of the container 140 allowsthe trolley 102 to be used for a subsequent print job while providing aspace for cooling and unpacking of the print job. A further benefit ofthe container 140 is that build material cannot escape from thecontainer 140 when the guillotine member 150 is in the closedconfiguration. Moving the manufactured objects 160 from the trolley 102in the container 140 reduces mess and improves efficiency because themore unused build material 162 is collected after printing from thecontainer 140 and from the trolley 102.

The method of cooling and unpacking a manufactured object 160 from a 3Dprinter, includes positioning the container 140 over the manufacturedobject located on a build platform of the trolley 102. The container 140has an open end in order to position the container 140 over themanufactured objects 160. The method includes sliding the guillotinemember 150 across the lower portion of the container 140 to form a baseof the container 140 so that the manufactured objects 160 are inside thecontainer 140. The method further includes selecting an aperturedconfiguration of the guillotine member 150 to open a plurality of holes152 in the guillotine member 150 to allow passage of air and buildmaterial 162 through the guillotine member 150, connecting a vacuumsource to the connector 142 and controlling the vacuum source to cooldown the manufactured objects 160 and control the flow of air throughthe container 140.

The method may further comprise vibrating the container 140 to unpackthe manufactured objects 160 and collecting any unused build materialwhich passes through the guillotine member into the trolley, or getssucked into the vacuum, selecting a closed configuration of theguillotine member 150 to close the plurality of holes 152 in theguillotine, and removing the container 140 from the trolley 102 forfurther processing.

The material management station 106 in this example has a mixer 113 formixing recycled build material from the internal recovered buildmaterial tank 108 with fresh material from one of the fresh buildmaterial supply tanks 114 a, 114 b for supply to the trolley 102 when itis loaded prior to a printing production process. The mixing of the twomaterials is performed in a mixing tank 112, which in this example, isprovided on top of the material management station 106, above thelocation of the build platform when the trolley 102 is docked therein.

The fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b, the externaloverflow tank 110 and the main body of the material management station106 may be constructed to fit together in a modular way, permitting anumber of alternative geometrical configurations for the fully assembledmaterial management station 106, this makes it adaptable fit intodifferent housing spaces in a manufacturing environment.

The fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b may be releasablyconnected to the main body of the material management station 106 viarespective supply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b. These supply tankconnectors 134 a, 134 b may incorporate a security system to reduce thelikelihood of unsuitable build material being used in the 3D printingsystem. In one example, suitable fresh build material supply tanks 114a, 114 b are provided with a secure memory chip, which can be read by achip reader (not shown) or other processing circuitry on the main bodyof the material management station 106 to verify the authenticity of anyreplacement supply tank (cartridge) 114 a, 114 b that has beeninstalled. In this example, the chip reader may be provided on thesupply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b and upon attachment of the freshbuild material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b to the respective connector 134a, 134 b, an electrical connection may be formed. The processingcircuitry in the material management station 106 may also be used towrite a measured weight of build material determined to be in therespective fresh build material supply tank(s) 114 a, 114 b onto thesecure memory chip of the tank to store and/or update that value. Thus,the amount of build material remaining in the fresh build materialsupply tank(s) 114 a, 114 b at the end of a trolley loading process canbe recorded.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words“comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but notlimited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude othercomponents, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims ofthis specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless thecontext otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite articleis used, the specification is to be understood as contemplatingplurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers or characteristics described in conjunction with aparticular example are to be understood to be applicable to any exampledescribed herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the featuresdisclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or processso disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinationswhere at least some of such features and/or steps are mutuallyexclusive. The disclosure is not restricted to the details of anyforegoing examples. The disclosure extends to any novel one, or anynovel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to anynovel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method orprocess so disclosed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A container for receiving a manufacturedobject from a 3D printer, the container comprising: a wall forming sidesof the container; a top extending to the sides of the container aconnector for connection to a vacuum source; and a guillotine member;wherein a lower portion of the container has support members to slidablyreceive the guillotine member to form a base of the container; whereinthe guillotine member is selectively adjustable between an aperturedconfiguration having a plurality of through holes to allow passage ofair and/or build material, and a closed configuration in which thethrough holes are closed so as to prevent build material from fallingout of the container; and wherein the container is further provided withclamp points to receive a clamp arm from the 3D printer, the clamp armbeing provided with a vibration mechanism for vibrating the container.2. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a heater.
 3. Acontainer according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the wallis provided with a heat transfer plate.
 4. A container according toclaim 1, wherein the wall is provided with a thermal blanket.
 5. Acontainer according to claim 1, wherein the container is furtherprovided with a vibrator for self-vibration of the container.
 6. Acontainer according to claim 1, wherein the through hole size rangesfrom an average particle size of the build material and a minimum sizeof the manufactured object.
 7. A container according to claim 1, whereinthe through hole shape is selected from the following: a circular-shape,a slit-shape, a cross-shape, an oval-shape, a square-shape, and adiamond-shape.
 8. A 3D printing system comprising: a 3D printer formanufacturing an object, a material management system for supplyingbuild material to the 3D printer, a trolley; and a container forreceiving a manufactured object from a 3D printer, the containercomprising: a wall forming sides of the container, a top extending tothe sides of the container; a connector for connection to a vacuumsource; and a guillotine member; wherein a lower portion of thecontainer has support members to slidably receive the guillotine memberto form a base of the container; wherein the guillotine member isselectively adjustable between an apertured configuration having aplurality of through holes to allow passage of air and/or buildmaterial, and a closed configuration in which the through holes areclosed so as to prevent build material from falling out of thecontainer; and wherein the container is further provided with clamppoints to receive a clamp arm from the 3D printer, the clamp arm beingprovided with a vibration mechanism for vibrating the container, whereinthe trolley comprises a build platform on which the object beingmanufactured is constructed and a build material store beneath the buildplatform.
 9. A 3D printing system according to claim 8, wherein a vacuumsource is provided to collect build material from the container forrecycling build material within the material management system.
 10. Amethod of cooling and unpacking a manufactured object from a 3D printer,the method comprising: positioning a container according to claim 1 overthe manufactured object located on a build platform of a 3D printertrolley; sliding the guillotine member across the lower portion of thecontainer to form a base of the container so that the manufacturedobject is inside the container; selecting an apertured configuration ofthe guillotine to open a plurality of holes in the guillotine to allowpassage of build material through the guillotine; connecting a vacuumsource to the connector and controlling the vacuum source to cool downthe manufactured object.
 11. A method according to claim 10, furthercomprising: vibrating the container to unpack the manufactured objectand collecting any unused build material which passes through theguillotine into the trolley; selecting a closed configuration of theguillotine to close the plurality of holes in the guillotine; andremoving the container from the trolley for further processing.
 12. Amethod according to claim 10, further comprising heating the container.13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising vibrating thecontainer by pulsing the vacuum source to create a plurality of pulsesof air flow through the container.
 14. A method according to claim 10,further comprising varying the strength of the vacuum source to create aplurality of a jets through the container.
 15. A method according toclaim 10, further comprising increasing and decreasing the strength ofthe vacuum source sequentially to create a plurality of a jets ofdifferent flow rates through the container.